Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01F—PROCESSING OF HARVESTED PRODUCE; HAY OR STRAW PRESSES; DEVICES FOR STORING AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE
  • A01F15/00—Baling presses for straw, hay or the like
  • A01F15/08—Details
  • A01F15/14—Tying devices specially adapted for baling presses
  • A01F15/145—Twine knotters
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01F—PROCESSING OF HARVESTED PRODUCE; HAY OR STRAW PRESSES; DEVICES FOR STORING AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE
  • A01F15/00—Baling presses for straw, hay or the like
  • A01F15/04—Plunger presses

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a knotter system, and in particular to a knotter system for a baler for forming two consecutive knots during a single knotter cycle, said knotter cycle comprising at least a first knot forming cycle and a second knot forming cycle,.
• Rectangular bales are able to maintain their shape by means of a series of parallel extending twine loops, provided lengthwise around the bales.
• Known balers typically use automatic knotters by which two knots are made on every loop for binding a bale.
• An example of such a knotter system for a baler is disclosed in US 2006/0012176 in the name of the Applicant, the disclosure of which is included herein by reference.
• the knotter system disclosed in US 2006/0012176 has the advantage that two consecutive knots can be formed during one operation cycle, without the formation of twine tails.
• the object of embodiments of the present invention is to further improve the knotter system of US 2006/0012176 and WO2014/060245, and more in particular to improve the forming of the first and/or second knot.
• a knotter system for performing a knotter cycle of a baler.
• the knotter cycle comprises at least a first knot forming cycle and a second knot forming cycle.
• the knotter system comprises a needle, a tucker arm, a billhook assembly and a drive means.
• the needle is configured for delivering a needle twine.
• the tucker arm is configured for delivering a tucker twine.
• the billhook assembly comprises a billhook with a lower lip and an upper lip mounted pivotally with respect to lower lip.
• the billhook is mounted rotatably around a rotation axis, preferably an inclined rotation axis.
• the drive means is adapted to make the billhook perform at least a first full rotation around its rotation axis during the first knot forming cycle and a second full rotation around its rotation axis during the second knot forming cycle.
• the billhook assembly is configured to position or move the upper lip away from the lower lip in a first angular range and to position or move the upper lip away from the lower lip in a second angular range of at least one of the first and second full rotation, wherein the first angular range is located within a range between 0° and 160°, and the second angular range is located within a range between 160° and 360°, wherein 0° corresponds with a start position of the billhook assembly.
• the twines By positioning or moving the upper lip away from the lower lip in the first angular range, i.e. by opening the billhook after the twines have been draped over the billhook, the twines can be moved backwards on the billhook in the direction of the pivot point between the lower lip and the upper lip, thus ensuring that the twines are properly positioned on the billhook.
• the open billhook allows to perform the knotting, wherein twines are positioned between the lower lip and the upper lip as in prior art solutions.
• the opening of the billhook in the first angular range can be done both in the first knot forming cycle and in the second knot forming cycle.
• the billhook assembly is configured to move the upper lip away from the lower lip and back a first time in the first angular range and to move the upper lip away from the lower lip a second time in the second angular range.
• the billhook may be briefly opened during the first angular range and then closed again, in order not to hinder the movement of other components, such as the swing arm, see further, during a knot forming cycle.
• the billhook assembly is configured to move the upper lip away from the lower lip in the first angular range and to move the upper lip back to the lower lip in the second angular range.
• the billhook is opened in the first angular range and remains open until the end of the first angular range.
• the billhook may e.g. be opened a little in the first angular range and then opened more in the second angular range.
• the first angular range is located within a range between 0° and 130°, preferably within a range between 0° and 90°.
• the twines can be positioned properly right at the beginning.
• the billhook assembly comprises a cam surface, and the billhook is provided with a cam follower in contact with the cam surface.
• the cam surface may be provided with a first and a second cam configured for pushing the upper lip away from the lower lip, in the first angular range and in the second angular range, respectively, during said first full rotation and during said second full rotation.
• the cam surface may be provided with a single cam causing the billhook to open in the first angular range and to remain open in the second angular range.
• Embodiments with a cam surface and cam follower have the advantage that the opening of the billhook is well controlled and predictable.
• the upper lip may be provided with a hook- like end part protruding in the direction of the lower lip.
• the hook-like end part has an inner face making an obtuse angle a with a lower face of an elongate portion of the upper lip.
• the billhook assembly is configured to position the upper lip away from the lower lip in the first angular range of the first full rotation and to position the upper lip away from the lower lip in the second angular range of the first full rotation, and to position the upper lip away from the lower lip in the first angular range of the second full rotation and to position the upper lip away from the lower lip in the second angular range of the second full rotation.
• the knotter system further comprises a twine receiver and a swing arm.
• the twine receiver may be configured for holding the needle twine and the tucker twine.
• the swing arm may be adapted for cutting twines between the billhook and the twine receiver.
• the drive means may then be further configured to move the swing arm a first time from a rest position to an extended position and back during the first knot forming cycle and a second time during the second knot forming cycle.
• the drive means comprise a cam track and a cam follower, said cam follower being connected with the swing arm, and said cam track being provided in said disc or in a member mounted for rotating synchronously with said disc, and being adapted for moving the swing arm a first time and a second time during the first and the second knot forming cycle, respectively.
• the knotter system further comprises a twine finger.
• the twine finger may be configured for guiding at least the needle twine, said twine finger being mounted moveably below the billhook and the swing arm.
• the drive means may then be further configured to move the twine finger at least a first time during the first knot forming cycle and a second time during the second knot forming cycle.
• the swing arm is configured for sweeping a formed knot from the billhook during the first knot forming cycle and during the second knot forming cycle, respectively.
• the twine receiver is adapted to let the twines slip during the second knot forming cycle so that cutting of the needle and tucker twine is avoided when forming the second knot.
• the twines By allowing the twines to slip during the second full rotation of the billhook, the cutting of the twines is avoided.
• the drive means comprise a pinion and at least a first and second gear stretch provided along the circumference of a disc, said pinion being adapted to cooperate with said first and second gear stretch for making the billhook perform a first and second full rotation respectively when said disc is rotated for forming the first and the second knot, respectively.
• the drive means may be adapted to make the billhook perform a third full rotation during the knotter cycle, and to maintain the swing arm in the extended position during at least a first part of said third rotation. More preferably, the positioning means are adapted to move the upper lip away from the lower lip during at least said first part of the third rotation, so that the second knot may be removed from the billhook during the first part of the third full rotation of the billhook.
• the drive means may comprise a third gear stretch on the disc. The pinion may then be adapted to cooperate with the first, second and third gear stretch for making the billhook perform the first, second and third full rotation, respectively, when the disc is rotated.
• the twine receiver comprises a twine disc and a twine holder.
• the twine holder is adapted to clamp twines against the twine disc.
• the knotter system may further comprise second drive means adapted for rotating the twine disc during a first turn whilst clamping twines for forming the first knot, and for rotating the twine disc during a second turn whilst letting twines slip for the forming of the second knot.
• the twine disc is provided with at least a first and a second notch for receiving the twines. The twines are typically in the first notch during the first turn and in the second notch during the second turn.
• the twine receiver is provided with biasing means for setting a bias for the clamping action by the twine holder.
• the biasing means may then be adapted to set a first bias during the first turn, and a second bias during the second turn.
• the first bias is chosen such that the twines are firmly clamped, while the second bias is chosen such that the twines are allowed to slip out of the twine receiver.
• the swing arm is provided with a cutter and a removal means.
• the cutter is adapted for cutting twines between the billhook and the twine receiver, whilst moving from the rest position to the extended position
• the removal means are adapted for sweeping twines from the billhook whilst moving from the rest position to the extended position.
• the removal means have a shape which is complementary to the shape of the billhook in order to facilitate the removal of the twines.
• a baler comprising a plurality of knotter systems according to any one of the embodiments defined above.
• FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of a baler having a double knotter tying mechanism
• FIG. 1 A is a detailed view of a needle end portion
• FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a complete and a partial double-knotted loop without the forming of twine tails
• FIGS. 3A-3D are exploded perspective views of an exemplary embodiment of a double knotter system of the invention, looking from different angles;
• FIGS. 4 A, 4C and 4D are perspective views of a billhook assembly according to an embodiment, in different angular positions of the billhook;
• FIG. 4B is a schematic bottom view of the cam surface of the billhook assembly of FIG. 4A.
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a billhook
• FIGS. 6A to 60 are fragmentary, schematic views illustrating the successive steps of a double- knotting operation.
• FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a twine receiver
• FIG. 7B is a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of a twine receiver.
• FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a modified upper lip of a billhook according to an exemplary embodiment.
• the baler 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 has a rectangular bale case 2 that is supported by ground wheels 3.
• the bale case 2 defines a bale chamber wherein material is pushed in through a curved duct 4.
• a plunger 5 reciprocates within the bale case to intermittently pack fresh charges of material from the duct 4 rearward in the chamber in the direction of the arrow 6.
• a trigger 7 is pulled by a rod 8.
• This rod 8 engages a dog clutch 9, the clutch 9 in turn being connected to a tying mechanism 10 and a set of needles 11.
• the tying mechanism comprises a set of individual knotters 10 provided crosswise on top of the bale chamber at intervals.
• Each knotter 10 has an associated needle 11 for assisting in forming an individual loop around a finished bale.
• the dog clutch 9 connects the knotters 10 and their needles 11 via a drive chain 12 to a source of driving power to initiate the tying operation.
• the individual knotters 10 all operate in an identical manner, it suffices to describe the present invention in relation to only one such knotter 10.
• the needle 11 is swingably mounted on the bale case 2 by a pivot 13 and is swung back and forth across the bale chamber by a linkage 14, which is activated by the clutch 9.
• the needle 11 has an "at-home” or rest position fully below the bale case 2 as illustrated in FIG. 1 and a "full-throw” position extending completely across the bale case 2 as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 6C.
• the tip 20 of needle 11 has an eyelet 21 defined therein by the opposed furcations 22 and 23 of the bifurcated tip 20 in conjunction with a pair of longitudinally spaced, transversely extending rollers 24 and 25.
• a partial loop 62a which is in the process of being formed.
• the already completed bale on the right is wrapped by a loop 62 formed by a top and bottom twine 64, 66 which are knotted in the two top corners of the bale, see knots 68 and 77.
• the partial loop 62a around the bale that is being formed comprises a top twine 64a (also called tucker twine) and a bottom twine 66a (also called needle twine).
• the top twine 64a emanates from a source of twine supply 72
• the bottom twine 66a emanates from an entirely separate, second source of twine supply 74.
• a knot 68a (this is the second knot of an already executed knotter cycle where knot 70 was formed as the first knot and knot 68a as the second knot) is in existence, and the bale is approaching that length where the needle 42 is ready to swing into operation and present the twines 64a and 66a to the knotter 40 to start a knotter cycle in which two consecutive knots are being formed.
• the loop 62 is made from two strands of binding material, i.e., one strand of twine 64 along the top side of the bale and a second strand of twine 66 along the bottom side of the bale and its two opposite, vertical ends.
• the strands of twine 64 and 66 together form the continuous loop 62. Together, they fully circumscribe the bale.
• the knot 70 (this is the first knot of a knotter cycle) is typically a traditional knot.
• the knot 68, 68a of a bale (this is the second knot of a knotter cycle) may be a traditional knot or a so called loop-knot. In a loop-knot the ends of the twines 64, 64a and 66, 66a of the knot 68, 68a are released from a retained position so they can be pulled back as will be described further to form a small loop on top of the knot.
• the knot 68, 68a itself holds the ends of the twines 64, 64a and 66, 66a united with the knot 68, 68a.
• the knotter is similar in many respects to the knotters disclosed in US2006/0012176,
• FIGS. 3A-D illustrate a first embodiment of a knotter 10 according to the invention.
• the same reference numerals have been used for referring to similar elements in the different embodiments.
• the knotter 10 of FIGS. 3A-D comprises a generally circular element, also called knotter disc 501 that is secured to a drive shaft 502 for rotation with the latter through one full revolution when the clutch 9 is engaged.
• the shaft 502 is typically supported by a forwardly inclined frame 15 (see FIG. 1) attached to the top of the bale case 2, and the frame 15 also supports the knotter components for forming the knots in response to rotation of the knotter disc 501.
• the knotter components include a rotary billhook 100, supported by the frame 15 for rotation about an inclined axis 106 (see FIG. 5); a twine disc 201 rearward of and adjacent to the billhook 100 for holding top and bottom twines 64a and 66a in position for engagement by the billhook 100 during rotation of the latter; and a swing arm 400 pivotally attached to the frame 15 by a bolt 420.
• the top and bottom twines 64a and 66a are held in notches 211, 212 in the rotating twine disc 201 by a retainer or twine holder 202, see FIG. 3D.
• the tensioning force of this retainer 202 to the twine disc 201 can be adjusted manually by changing the tension of a leaf-spring 220 when a bolt is loosened or tightened.
• the billhook assembly is illustrated in detail in FIG. 4A, 4C and 4D, and comprises a billhook 100 and a cam surface 110.
• the billhook 100 is shown in detail in FIG. 5 and comprises a lower lip 102, and an upper lip 101 connected around a pivot point with the lower lip 102.
• the billhook 100 performs at least a first full rotation around its rotation axis 106 during a first knot forming cycle and a second full rotation around its rotation axis 106 during a second knot forming cycle.
• a cam follower 103 which is connected to the upper lip 101, engages a cam surface 110 having a first cam 111 and a second cam 112.
• the cam follower 103 When rotating over the first cam 111 (FIG. 4D) or over the second cam 112, the cam follower 103 will push the upper lip 101 away from the lower lip 102.
• the first cam 111 will cause a first opening of billhook 100 (i.e. the upper lip 101 moving away from the lower lip 102) to ensure a good positioning of the twines 64a and 66a on the billhook 100, see FIG. 6E, and the second cam 112 will cause a second opening of billhook 100 enabling the twines 64a and 66a to enter in between the two lips 101 and 102 while the billhook 100 is rotated.
• the billhook assembly is configured to position the upper lip 101 away from the lower lip 102 in a first angular range 121 of the first full rotation and to position the upper lip 101 away from the lower lip 102 in a second angular range 122 of the first full rotation.
• the first cam 111 will cause a first opening of billhook 100 to ensure a good positioning of the twines 64b and 66b on the billhook 100, see FIG. 6K
• the second cam 112 will cause a second opening of billhook 100 enabling the twines 64b and 66b to enter in between the two lips 101 and 102, see FIG. 6M.
• the billhook assembly is configured to position the upper lip 101 away from the lower lip 102 in a first angular range 121 of the second full rotation and to position the upper lip 101 away from the lower lip 102 in a second angular range 122 of the second full rotation. Since the same cam surface with the first and second cam 111, 112 is used for the first and second full rotation of billhook 100, the first and second angular ranges 121, 122 are also the same for the first and second full rotation.
• the first angular range 121 is located within a range between 0° and 160°
• the second angular range 122 is located within a range between 160° and 360°.
• the first angular range is located within a range between 0° and 130°, more preferably within a range between 0° and 90°.
• the first and second angular range are schematically illustrated in FIG. 4B.
• Reference B indicates a start position for the cam follower 103
• arrow R indicates the rotational direction of the billhook 100.
• the cam follower 103 may be positioned between the second cam 112 and the first cam 111 (FIG. 4C).
• the cam follower 103 may be positioned at the beginning of the first cam 111, i.e. in a position in which the billhook 100 is open (FIG. 4D).
• the billhook 100 When the first rotation starts, the billhook 100 is opened a first time in the first angular range 121 of the first rotation when the cam follower 103 passes over the first cam 111. Next the billhook is closed again as the cam follower leaves the first cam 111. When the cam follower 103 enters the second angular range 122, the billhook 100 is opened a second time when it reaches the first end of the second cam 112. The same sequence is followed for the second full rotation.
• two cams 111, 112 are provided such that the upper lip 101 is moved away from the lower lip 102 and back a first time in the first angular range and moved away from the lower lip 102 and back a second time in the second angular range.
• the billhook assembly is configured to move the upper lip 101 away from the lower lip 102 in the first angular range and to move the upper lip 101 back to the lower lip 102 in the second angular range.
• the cam may be adapted such that in the first angular range the billhook 100 opens only a little whilst opening fully in the second angular range.
• the length 1 of the lower lip 102 measured from the pivot point is preferably larger than 35 mm, in order to ensure that the twines can be properly placed on the billhook 100 and do not slide off the billhook 100.
• the upper lip 101 is provided at a free end thereof with a downwardly protruding end part 104, and the lower lip 102 is provided with an end recess 105 for receiving said protruding end part. In that way the upper lip 101 can be placed against or very close to the lower lip 102 ensuring an improved stripping of the knot formed on the billhook 100.
• the swing arm 400 has an arm portion 401 and a lower end portion 402 and is arranged for moving the lower end portion 402 below the billhook 100, between a backward position and a forward position.
• the lower end portion 402 comprises a heel portion
• the side portion 412 extends between the billhook 100 and the twine disc 201 and forms the connection between an end of the heel portion 410 with an opposite end of the front portion 411.
• the side portion 412 is provided with a knife blade 403 for cutting twines between the billhook and the twine receiver whilst moving from the backward position to the forward position.
• An open area 413 is formed between the heel portion 410 and the front portion 412.
• the open area 413 is dimensioned and shaped for being accessible by the twine delivering system (needle 11 and tucker arm, see further) so that twines can be delivered through said open area 413 on the billhook 100.
• the lower end portion 402 of the swing arm 400 is shaped in such a way that there is an opening at a side facing away from the twine disc 201, said opening being located underneath the billhook 100 in a knotter position of the swing arm 400.
• the front portion 411 has a curved guidance part 405 oriented in the direction of the heel part 410.
• the curved guidance part 405 is shaped, dimensioned and arranged for guiding the twines towards the side part 412 during stripping of a formed knot, and more in particular towards the inner angle formed by the front part 411 and the side part 412.
• the heel portion 411 has a curved guidance part 406 oriented in the direction of the front part 410.
• the curved guidance part 406 is arranged for guiding the twines across the billhook during delivery and during knotting.
• Such a twine finger may be configured for guiding at least the needle twine, wherein the twine finger being mounted moveably below the billhook 100 and the swing arm 400.
• Drive means for the twine finger may then be configured to move the twine finger at least a first time during the first knot forming cycle and a second time during the second knot forming cycle.
• the additional guide finger is not required.
• the knotter disc 501 is provided with a pinion 503 which is disposed for meshing engagement with at a first and a second
• Pinion 503 is adapted to cooperate with said first and second gear stretch 504, 505 for making the billhook 100 perform a first and second full rotation respectively when knotter disc 501 is rotated for forming the first and the second knot, respectively.
• Cam follower 430 is connected with the swing arm 400.
• Cam track 440 may be provided in disc 501 or in a member mounted for rotating synchronously with disc 501, and is adapted for moving the swing arm 400 a first time and a second time during the first and the second knot forming cycle, respectively.
• a shaft 30 extends parallel with the shaft 502 to a point substantially in fore-and-aft alignment with the billhook 100, see FIG. 2.
• the shaft 30 fixedly carries a rearward extending tucker arm 31.
• the tucker arm 31 carries a roller 33 at its rearmost end around which the strand 64a is entrained.
• a length of the strand 64a is also looped upwardly around a slacker arm 34 disposed above the tucker arm 31.
• the strand 64a may be further clamped between a pair of opposed plates (not shown) of a tensioning unit.
• the needle 11 is still in its home position.
• the bale has reached its desired length and it is time to complete the loop around the bale and make the second knot in the loop.
• the strand 64a stretches along the top of the bale directly beneath the swing arm 400 but, at least for all effective purposes, is out of contact with the knotter 10.
• the swing arm 400 moves backward, and the needle 11 swings upwardly toward the knotter 10. It carries with it the strand 66a as the latter is paid out by source 74.
• a length of that strand on the twine source side of the needle 11 is also carried upwardly toward the knotter 10, such extra length being hereinafter denoted 66b.
• the tucker arm 31 As the needle 11 approaches the knotter 10, the tucker arm 31 is also moved upward, see FIG. 6A and 6B. The tucker arm 31 rocks upwardly in a counter-clockwise direction to provide the slack necessary in the strand 64a to accommodate the needle movement.
• the tip of the needle 11 and more particularly, the roller 25, snares the strand 64a as illustrated in FIG. 6C and presents twines 64a and 66a in unison to the knotter 10.
• the swing arm 400 is in a position to guide the twines so as to ensure that the twines 64a and 66a are both in proper position across the billhook 100, see FIG. 6D.
• the billhook is opened to ensure that the twines 64a, 66a are properly positioned over the billhook 100, at an end portion of the upper lip 101 near the pivot point with the lower lip 102.
• the guide part 406 of the heel portion 411 may help in ensuring that the twines 64a, 66a are properly placed across an upper lip 101 of the billhook 100.
• the needle 11 drapes the twines across the billhook 100, optionally with the help of the guidance part 406, and thence into awaiting notches 211 of the twine disc 201, whereupon rotation of co-operating discs in the latter, in combination with a pressing twine holder 202, serve to firmly grip the twines 64a, 66a and prevent their escape as the billhook 100 begins its rotation, see FIG. 6D, 6E, 6F and 6G.
• the swing arm 400 moves a little backward (arrow B), moving the front portion 410 away from the billhook 100, to provide additional space for the rotation of the billhook.
• the twine disc 201 rotates a quarter of a turn and clamps the twines 64a and 66a firmly together in the first notch 211. Now the needle 11 can move downward. During the down travel of the needle 11 the two twines on the back of the needles are placed in the next notch 212 of the twine disc for the second knot, see FIG. 6F and 6G. While the needle 11 goes down, the billhook 100 continues to rotate to form the first knot. During this further rotation of the billhook 100, the billhook 100 opens again, see FIG. 6G, such that the twines from first notch 211 can be positioned between the upper lip 101 and the lower lip 102. The swing arm 400 swings forward (arrow F in FIG. 6H) to cut the twines under the twine disc with the knife blade 403 and sweeps the knot from the billhook 100 with the help of the stripping part 404.
• the twines 64a and 66a extend from in between the lips 101 and 102 towards the twine disc 201, see FIG. 6H.
• the stripping part 404 engages the twines 64a and 66a which are retained in a twisted manner around the billhook 100. In so doing, the strand parts lying on top of the upper lip 101 are pulled over the strand parts lying in between the upper and lower lips 101 and 102, thereby forming the first knot.
• the free ends of the twines 64a and 66a are very short, they are pulled completely through the knot during its final formation, resulting in the so-called conventional knot 70a.
• further motion of the arm 400 also strips the finished knot completely from the billhook 100 and drops the completed loop on the bale as illustrated in FIG. 61.
• the strand 66b of needle twine from source 74, as well as strand 64b of tucker twine from source 72 is still retained in the second notch 212 and possibly also in the first notch 211 of the twine disc 201. Consequently, as the needle 11 continues to retract, the strand 66b is draped downwardly across the bale chamber 2 thereby pushing the upper lip 101 down because of the pressure of the twines on the upper lip 101, while the tucker arm 31 lowers to its normal position. Upon reaching the condition illustrated in FIG. 6J, the strands 64b and 66b are in position for initiating the second knot forming cycle.
• the billhook In a first angular range of the second rotation the billhook is briefly opened as illustrated in FIG. 6K, in order to ensure that the strands 64a and 66b are well positioned on the billhook 100, in a similar manner as described above for the first knot forming cycle.
• the swing arm 400, and in particular guidance part 406, may help with the proper positioning of the twines 64b and 66b across and in engagement with the billhook 100.
• the billhook 100 and the twine disc 201 are operated by their second respective gear stretch 505 and gear section 606 on the knotter disc 501, see FIG. 6L, 6M and 6N, wherein the billhook 100 is opened a second time in a second angular range of the second rotation, whilst the cam follower 103 thereof passes over the second cam 112.
• the twine disc 201 has a protruding ridge 213 positioned after the second notch 212, seen in a rotation direction of the disc 201, so that the twine holder 202 is moved away from the twine disc 201 when the disc is further rotated during the forming of the second knot.
• the free ends of the strands 64b and 66b are considerably longer than the free ends obtained during the first knot formation, upon finalizing the knot, the free ends of the strands 64b and 66b no longer are pulled completely out of the knot, resulting in a so-called loop-knot 68b, as best seen in FIG. 6N and in FIG. 2.
• Fig. 60 illustrates the swing arm 400 with the lower end portion in the forward position, after removal of the knot. In this position the cam follower 103 of billhook 100 is on the first cam 111, with the billhook open.
• FIG. 7A illustrates a first example of a possible twine receiver 200 comprising a twine disc 201 and a twine holder 202.
• the twine disc 201 comprises a first disc 221 and a second disc 222 fixed on an axis 223.
• the twine holder comprises a first press plate 231 and a second press plate 232 intended for being inserted between the first and second disc 221, 222.
• the first press plate is intended for being in operative contact with the outer side of the first disc 221.
• the first disc 221 is provided at its inner and/or outer side with a protruding ridge 213. In the embodiment of FIG. 7A the ridge extends at both sides of the first disc 221, while in the embodiment of FIG.
• the ridge extends only at the outer side of disc 221.
• the first disc 221 is provided with an opening 224
• the ridge 213 is formed by a piece 213 that is fixed through the opening 224 on the second disc 222.
• the skilled person will understand that other shapes are possible and that it may be possible to provide more or less notches in the twine disc.
• providing the twine disc with only two notches 211, 212 spaced along the circumference at an angle which approximately 90 degrees, as in the embodiment of FIG. 7A, is advantageous because this will allow the notches to be located at a lower part of the twine discs 201 when the knotter is in a non-active state. This will avoid that dirt can accumulate in the notches in the non- operative state of the knotter.
• the pressure exerted by the leaf spring 220 could be regulated using a setting means adapted to decrease this pressure at the end of the second rotation of the billhook 100.
• the twine holder 202 could be pushed away against the force of the leaf spring 220 during the formation of the second knot.
• this regulating of the pressure/pushing away of the twine holder can be reached using any suitable mechanical or hydraulic transfer.
• an adaption of shape of the notches 211, 212 and the use of a protruding ridge 213 may be combined.
• a supplementary gear section 606' providing a prolonged operation of the twine disc 201, so that the twine disc rotates over approximately 270 degrees during the second knot forming cycle.
• This prolonged rotation in combination with the protruding ridge 213 will result in the twines 64b and 66b being no longer retained between the twine disc 201 and the twine holder 202, causing a further slipping of the twines during the forming of the second knot.
• the knife blade 403 is very sharp, it will not be able to cut the twines because instead of holding the twines, the twine disc 201 is releasing them on account of the continued rotation of the twine disc 201 and the low pressure of the twine holder 202 on the twines, while the arm 400 continues moving and stripping of the almost completed knot from the billhook 100, thus pulling the twines out of the twine disc 201.
• the supplementary gear section 606 is not necessary, and that a similar effect can be reached when the tensioning force of the leaf spring 220 to the twine holder 202 is sufficiently decreased.
• This second knot is the start of a new bight for the next bale.
• Such bight is in position to receive new material that is packed into the bale chamber by the plunger, and the bight grows in length as additional lengths of the twines 64b and 66b are simultaneously pulled from their sources 72 and 74.
• the sequence returns to its starting point, whereupon the bight is closed by operation of the needle 11 to complete the loop around the bale and form the other knot.
• the cam surface may have only the second cam 112 as in prior art solutions and the billhook 100 itself may be modified to cause the opening of the billhook in the first angular range as defined above. For example, as illustrated in FIG.
• the upper lip 101 of billhook may be made heavier at the lower side of downwardly protruding end part 104.
• This additional material can be chosen such that the upper lip 101 opens in the first angular range.
• the upper lip 101 may be provided with a hook- like end part 104 protruding in the direction of the lower lip.
• the hook-like end part 104 has an inner face 104' making an obtuse angle a with a lower face 10 ⁇ of an elongate portion of the upper lip 101.
• By increasing the angle a the billhook can be more easily opened by a strand.
• an appropriate compromise has to be found between the shape of the upper lip 101, and in particular of the hook- like end part 104, and the tension in strands.

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• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
• Binders And Loading Units For Sheaves (AREA)
• Braiding, Manufacturing Of Bobbin-Net Or Lace, And Manufacturing Of Nets By Knotting (AREA)

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• 2017
  • 2017-05-02 BE BE2017/5307A patent/BE1024810B1/nl active IP Right Grant
• 2018
  • 2018-04-27 WO PCT/EP2018/060938 patent/WO2018202588A1/en unknown
  • 2018-04-27 CN CN201880009087.5A patent/CN110234221B/zh active Active
  • 2018-04-27 EP EP18720260.1A patent/EP3618605B1/en active Active
  • 2018-04-27 US US16/610,341 patent/US11229164B2/en active Active

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